The individual responsible for the billboard collapse has been apprehended in Udaipur and subsequently transported to Mumbai.

Following an extensive search, Mumbai Police Crime Branch successfully arrested Bhavesh Bhinde, the proprietor of Ego Media Pvt Ltd.

Last night, Bhavesh Bhinde, a businessman linked to the company responsible for erecting the billboard that collapsed in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar, was apprehended in Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was subsequently brought back to Mumbai this morning for court proceedings. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch conducted an extensive search leading to his arrest. The tragic event unfolded on Monday evening as a massive 120 feet by 120 feet billboard collapsed onto a nearby petrol pump during strong winds and unexpected rainfall, resulting in the loss of 16 lives and injuries to 75 individuals. Following the incident, Bhinde fled Mumbai in a vehicle with his driver.

After the hoarding collapse, eight Mumbai Police teams were deployed to various locations in search of Bhinde. He was eventually located in Udaipur on Thursday evening, three days after the incident. According to police reports, Bhinde traveled from Lonavala to Mumbai, then to Thane, and later to Ahmedabad before hiding in a hotel in Udaipur, where he changed his name to evade detection. Joint CP Crime Lakhmi Gautam, leading the investigation, dispatched a Mumbai Police Crime Branch team to Udaipur, resulting in Bhinde’s apprehension.

The search and rescue efforts at the collapse site ended at 10 am on Thursday, as confirmed by an official from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Notably, the illegal billboard was erected on land under the jurisdiction of the Government Railway Police (GRP).

The incident has underscored significant deficiencies in the regulatory supervision of advertising structures in Mumbai, prompting demands for more stringent enforcement of safety protocols.